The election of veteran journalist Danlami Nmodu, mni, as the new President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has been widely hailed as a homecoming of sorts for one of Nigeria’s most respected newsroom leaders — and a defining moment for the country’s digital media landscape.
Nmodu, publisher of Newsdiary Online, is no stranger to the frontlines of Nigerian journalism. A former journalist with TELL magazine and The NEWS and Insider Weekly titles during the golden era of Nigeria’s investigative press, his name rings familiar among professionals who witnessed the bold, adversarial journalism that shaped the country’s democratic journey in the 1990s.
Now leading GOCOP — the professional body of verified online news publishers — Nmodu’s emergence is seen as both a nod to experience and a signal toward renewal. His colleagues describe him as “calm but firm,” a consensus builder with an instinct for institutional discipline and journalistic integrity.
In a congratulatory message, former NUJ General Secretary Shu’aibu Usman Leman described Nmodu’s election as “an important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s online media,” commending the transparency of the process and the trust reposed in him by peers.
Under his stewardship, GOCOP is expected to consolidate its advocacy for ethical digital publishing, professional self-regulation, and fact-based journalism — at a time when misinformation continues to challenge the credibility of online platforms
